Fulham 3 QPR 2: Redknapp's side crushed in 34 minutes

Christopher Samba was supposed to be QPR’s big money saviour but the centre-back was run ragged by Dimitar Berbatov as Fulham crushed Harry Redknapp’s side with three goals in 34 minutes.

Fulham have little to play for at this late stage of the season but they seem to enjoy making everyone else’s life a little more difficult. In their last two league games they have taken three points from Champions League pushing Tottenham and have held Sunderland to a 2-2 draw in one of Martin O’Neill’s final hoorahs.

And a fourth consecutive home win over QPR leaves their visitors lingering dangerously close still to the bottom of the table in spite of a late comeback that was undone by a missed penalty.

Berbatov became the first Fulham player to score in four consecutive games since Steed Malbranque in 2003 as the Bulgarian stepped up for a seventh minute penalty. Samba dispossessed the striker fairly but clumsily tripped Askan Dejagah in his next movement and the unflappable Berbatov put his spot kick to Julio Cesar’s right.

Berbatov and Hangeland missed headed opportunities to double the home side’s lead shortly after but on 21 minutes Samba was exposed for the second time in short succession and, once again, Berbatov took advantage. Damian Duff caught the big defender on the ball and Berbatov cleared up the mess, pushing the ball across goal before putting the ball to Cesar’s right without the slightest sign of doubt.

“Going down” chanted the Hammersmith End at their West London rivals in one of the more pleasant pleasantries exchanged between the two sets of success-starved fans.

And the £12.5m Congolese international was caught foul for Fulham’s third. This time John Arne Riise skipped passed the wavering Samba before his fired cross ricocheted off Clint Hill past a hapless Cesar.

Adel Taarabt charged into Fulham’s territory to give Rednkapp’s side the slightest sign of hope before half-time, the Moroccan fired home clinically from the edge of the area in his first start since February.

Fulham began the second-half as QPR began the first. Giorgos Karagounis fouled Taarabt inside the area on 48 minutes but Mark Schwazer saved Loic Remy’s soft penalty. The Australian shot-stopper has been impressive and his teammates will be hoping that he is still one of their own come next season.

But Frenchman Remy pushed his penalty miss to the back of his mind with a fine finish two minutes later. Remy collected Stephane Mbia’s pass on the half-turn and shrugged off Philippe Senderos to rifle in shot off the crossbar.

QPR looked for an equaliser and came close through Andros Townsend, Remy and Bobby Zamora: the ex-Fulham striker was booed all evening on his return to a sold-out Craven Cottage.

Redknapp’s hopes of a result brightened when Steve Sidwell was sent off for lunging into Armand Traore with 11 minutes remaining but Martin Jol’s side held out for a win which will do no harm to their comfortable position in mid-table and leave their West London rivals staring the face of relegation.